Braille Institute | Universal Media Services | About Us | Text Only
Braille Institute Home - Text Version
Site Map - Text Version
About Us - Graphics Version
 
ABOUT BRAILLE INSTITUTE'S UNIVERAL MEDIA SERVICES
Just after the turn of the century, J. Robert Atkinson established the Universal Braille Press in his own garage. His mission: to bring the world of information to blind individuals by turning books into braille. Our services expanded and we became the Braille Institute of America, Inc.

The Universal Media Services department at Braille Institute not only harkens back to our founding mission, it reflects a shift toward today's needs by providing a broad range of options including recorded media.

Braille Institute is the largest braille publisher on the West Coast, publishing from 2 to 3 million pages per year. There are 18 staff members employed by the publishing unit and three in the recording unit. We also work with dozens of contract and volunteer transcribers, voice artists, monitors and assembly staff to enable us to efficiently coordinate large projects.
return to top
BRAILLE PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES:
Software/file format expertise:
Braille translation: Duxbury, Edit PC, Braille 2000, MegaDots
Tactile illustration: Illustrator, Freehand, Word
Word processing: Microsoft Word Page layout (to accept publisher files): Quark Express, Adobe Pagemaker File conversion/transfer: Staff proficient with ASCII Braille; file transfer via email; conversion between translation programs; exporting or converting text; importing Braille into tactile files and visa versa.
Equipment:
2 rotary Heidelberg presses for large, multiple-copy press runs and 1 PED (zinc platemaker)
2 electric saddle-stitch machines
4 Braillo 200 production embossers for short-run, print-on-demand projects. 3 desktop embossers; one for jumbo braille and another for pre-printed booklets.
3 thermoform machines 2 "toasters" for embossing swell paper tactiles
5 binder machines and full inventory of rings and cover sheets.
2 automatic bursters to remove form-feed strips from embossed pages. Large, electric paper cutter
Manual proof press to emboss plates for proofing
Full-service shipping department and loading dock
return to top
RECORDING CAPABILITIES
Three digital recording studios with monitoring capability
2 digital editing stations
Professional recording and editing software
Talent includes professionals working commercially as voice artists
return to top
Main Menu - Text Version
Braille Production
Recorded Media
Publications For Sale
Textbooks and Tests
Special Programs
Free Subscriptions
About Universal Media Services
Contact Us
return to top
Braille Institute Home - Graphics Version
If you have any questions or comments please contact us:

E-mail: biainfo@brailleinstitute.org

Phone toll-free: 1-800-BRAILLE (272-4553)

Phone hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm (PST)
return to top


Site Map | Privacy Policy Statement

Copyright © 2006 Braille Institute of America, Inc. All rights reserved.

This site is best viewed with the Firefox web browser.

Report broken links or other web site related issues to:

biasites@brailleinstitute.org